EADS is one of the best companies in Germany for offering women fair opportunities for career advancement. This is one of the findings that have emerged from the “Frauen-Karriere-Index” (Women's career index, FKi) survey carried out this year for the first time by the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. EADS is ranked fourth in the overall listing. According to Federal Minister Kristina Schröder, the index is designed to highlight companies that advocate fair opportunities for women in terms of career advancement and have taken particularly effective action in support of women.

This recognition is the fruit of our long term efforts to promote technical carriers for women and offer them equal opportunities in all our activities,” said Thierry Baril, Chief Human Resources Officer EADS Airbus. We are convinced that a balanced representation of women at all levels of the business can only enhance our Group's performance.

Christoph Hoppe, Head of Human Resources at EADS Germany, added: It is a key element of our corporate culture and that is why we are aiming to continuously increase the proportion of women in managerial positions over the next few years.

Companies of all sizes and from various different industries took part in the Ministry's first survey on a voluntary basis, with honours awarded to the top ten companies. Kathrin Eckardt, Head of Change Management Diversity at Cassidian, accepted the accolade on behalf of EADS.

EADS is aiming to increase the proportion of women amongst its new intake of staff to 25 percent yearly, and to boost its proportion of female managers to 20 percent in the years to come. In 2011, the Group set up an EADS Diversity Board chaired by Chief Human Resources Officer Thierry Baril, with the intention of promoting diversity within the workforce. The aim was to find more ways, beyond the diversity initiatives already in place, to drive and encourage diversity throughout the Group. An inclusive working environment for all employees whether it be in terms of gender, generations, differently-abled people or social/cultural background remains one of the main focal areas of the EADS diversity strategy. The GROW (GRowing Opportunities for Women) initiative, which was also launched in 2011, is designed to increase the number of female staff at managerial level by creating an extensive talent pool. With a focus on women in the early and middle stages of their careers, GROW offers a platform for women to share knowledge and develop a network.

About EADS

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2012, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 56.5 billion and employed a workforce of over 140,000.